The Bulgarian Diabetes Forum will be formally presented to Bulgaria's health authorities today. Its team will screen for prediabetes and diabetes in the National Assembly tomorrow, GERB-SDS MP Kostadin Angelov announced.
The tests are open to MPs and parliament staff. After the checks, each person will get a personal risk assessment and advice on what to do next. Angelov urged everyone who is interested to take part.
Angelov spoke in parliament to mark World Diabetes Day on 14 November. He said the day is a chance for people with diabetes, health workers, institutions and society to come together to raise awareness and act against the disease.
The Bulgarian forum is part of the European Diabetes Forum network, which works at European Commission level to win support for diabetes strategies. Its main goal is better health and quality of life for people with diabetes in Bulgaria. European health commissioner Olivér Várhelyi is among those taking part in the launch.
The National Health Information System lists about 860,000 people with diabetes in Bulgaria. Worldwide, more than 40% of people with the disease have no diagnosis, and 635m people are at higher risk of developing it, Angelov said.
The main problems with diabetes are chronic complications, the MP said. Prediabetes can be reversed, so the disease should be spotted early and treated in time.
He said everyone over 35, and anyone at higher risk, should have regular tests for prediabetes and diabetes.
Angelov noted that finding people who do not yet have a diagnosis is a global priority for the World Health Organization. The WHO wants 80% of people with diabetes to have a diagnosis by 2030.